4 · Sentence patterns
Emphasis: shì and question words
stressed shì, and question words meaning every or none
A stressed shì insists that something really is so, and a question word before dōu or yě means everybody, everything or anywhere.
Normally 是 does not stand before an adjective: it is 他很高, not 他是高. But a 是 spoken with stress can stand before an adjective or a verb to confirm something: 这件衣服是很漂亮, “this dress really is pretty”. It usually concedes a point before a “but”: 我是想去，可是没有时间, “I do want to go, but I have no time”. It works like the stressed English “do” and “is”.
The second kind of emphasis uses question words that ask nothing. Placed before 都 or 也, 谁becomes “everybody”什么“everything”哪儿“everywhere”什么时候“any time”: 谁都知道, “everybody knows”, 他什么都吃, “he eats anything”. With a negative they become “nobody”, “nothing”, “nowhere”: 我什么也没买.
The question word has to stand before 都 or 也 and before the verb — an object moves forward to get there. Left after the verb, it is either a real question (你吃什么？) or a vague “anything much”: 我不想吃什么 is “I don't really feel like eating anything”, mild and unstressed, while 我什么都不想吃 is a firm “I don't want to eat anything at all”.
In negative sentences 也 and 都 are about equally common; in positive ones 都 is the usual choice. The question word can also take a noun with it: 哪个菜都好吃, “every dish is good”.
The form
| stressed shì: it really is | 这个菜是很好吃。 |
| shì: I do want to, but | 我是想去，可是没有时间。 |
| everybody | 谁都知道。 |
| nothing | 我什么也没买。 |
| everywhere | 他哪儿都去过。 |
| any time | 什么时候都可以。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
A stressed 是 before an adjective or a verb confirms what has been said, often before a “but”.
这件衣服是很漂亮，但是太贵了。This dress is pretty, it really is — but it is too expensive.
A question word before 都 means every: everybody, everything, everywhere.
他的名字谁都知道。Everybody knows his name.
With a negative it means nobody, nothing or nowhere, and 也 is as common as 都.
今天我哪儿也不想去。I don't want to go anywhere today.
A question word that is the object moves before the verb, together with 都 or 也.
我饿了，什么都想吃。I am hungry — I could eat anything.
The question word can take a noun with it: 哪 plus a measure word and a noun, then 都.
哪个菜都好吃。Every one of the dishes is delicious.
A closer look
Two ways to say “nothing”
A question word after the verb, without 都, can mean “something” or “anything” in a loose, unstressed way: 你想吃点儿什么吗？, “would you like something to eat?”, 我不想吃什么, “I don't really want anything”. The pattern with 都 or 也 is the strong version: all, every, none at all.
怎么 joins the same family with a twist: 怎么也 plus a negative means “however hard one tries, not”: 我怎么也睡不着, “I just can't get to sleep”. The question word covers every possible way, and the negative rules them all out.
How to spot it
- 是
- 谁都
- 什么都
- 哪儿都
- 怎么也
- 什么也
Example sentences
他是不太高兴，不过什么也没说。He was not very pleased, it is true — but he said nothing.
我是想帮你，可我真的没时间。I do want to help you, but I really don't have time.
这个问题谁都能回答。Anybody can answer this question.
周末我哪儿都没去，在家休息了。I didn't go anywhere at the weekend; I rested at home.
他病了，什么也不想吃。He is ill and doesn't want to eat anything.
你什么时候来都行。You can come whenever you like.
8 more example sentences
北京的冬天是很冷，你说得对。Winter in Beijing is cold, you are right about that.
这件事谁也不知道。Nobody knows about this.
我的钥匙不见了，哪儿都找不到。My keys have gone — I can't find them anywhere.
他怎么也想不起来她的名字。However hard he tries, he cannot remember her name.
哪天都可以，你决定吧。Any day is fine — you decide.
我刚来，谁都不认识。I have only just arrived and don't know anybody.
我儿子不挑食，什么都吃。My son is not a fussy eater — he eats everything.
我是说过这句话，但不是这个意思。I did say that, but that is not what I meant.
Worth knowing (1)
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A shì A: granting a point
The same word on both sides of 是 grants a point before the real objection follows: 好是好, “it is good, all right”, 贵是贵, “expensive, yes”. The “but” after it is what the speaker actually wants to say.
这套房子好是好，就是离公司太远了。The flat is nice enough — it is just too far from work.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English puts “everything” where any object goes, after the verb. A Chinese question word only turns into “everything” when it stands before 都; left after the verb it is a real question again — “what (all) do I eat?”
A question word before dōu or yě stops asking and starts meaning every or none.
Your turn
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